Day 80: 1st Grade Nonfiction Books

Celebrating Young Authors

Mrs. Remington and Miss Tucker's 1st grade classes have wrapped up a study of nonfiction writing.  Students learned to research questions about a topic, record new facts, and use the facts they collected to create an informational piece of writing.

The students will celebrate their hard work with an Writing Celebration this week.

Below are audio versions of books written two young authors.  Listen as they read their last release!

Day 73: Dana Humm, 5th Grade Teacher

Kidblog:  Why my students enjoy blogging about their reading with total strangers.

I have learned that no matter how enthusiastic, energetic, funny, or entertaining I try to be, I will never be completely “cool” in the eyes of my students.  It’s something about the fact that I am the one assigning work, giving out homework, and nagging about forms that are due that make me seem almost like a second mom.  Do I think my students like me?  YES!  Do they want to blog with me about the books they are reading?  NO!

Enter Kidblog:  a website that safely lets students blog about books with total strangers!  Ok, not total strangers.  Currently my students are blogging with students at Columbus State Community College.  The college student and my 5th grader read the same book and then blog weekly to each other about what they read.  They ask each other questions about the book, answer questions from previous blogs, and talk about themselves.  (The whole time I get to monitor their posts to make sure they are appropriate and withhold any personal information).  The quality of writing and book analysis that comes from my students when there is a real-world purpose for it is phenomenal (not to mention that they get to use the laptops!)  I even find my students using their newfound audience to talk about other books they are reading and to make new book suggestions.  It is nice to see them engaging as real readers over real books.  Now if only I were as “cool” as their book buddies!

Student Blog:

“March 7, 2013 at 10:32 AM

Hello again you should get a chinchilla their so cute! I agree about how Jay is selfish. The book Hoot is really good im really far in it. Its probably going to be like Lost and Found a book that you never wished ended. You should read it its an awesome book. Ya I agree never knowing what happens next in a good book is what makes a book so good. Thats what happens in Hoot if I leave off at a good part I just wanna keep reading on. If I were Melissa and I knew the secret then I wouldn’t tell anyone even if I trusted a friend not to tell. Because like what happened in the book everyone was only telling friends they trusted,and then thats how the secret got around. Because every one just had to tell one of there close friends who they trusted. What would you do if you knew RAY and Jays secret? hmm would I tell melissa the secret if I were Jay? I think I would because Melissa seems like she could keep a secret, but like what happend in the book I think I wont tell Melissa my secret ,but I would because Ray even said he felt good to tell someone so maybe I would tell Melissa my secret. What would you do?

I do think that the whole school is going to find out. Because its getting around really fast, and sooner or later the whole school is going to tell because it is a cool secret. So yes I think the whole school is going to find out. Their going to get in trouble probably by there parents. I cant wait to hear back from you. Bye!!!!!!!!!”

Day 72: Mrs. Hall's 3rd Grade Writers

Persuasive 3rd Graders

Recently, students in Mrs. Hall's class worked with our Literacy Coach, Mrs. Wendt, and explored the genre of persuasive writing.  Students learned that there can be power in words, especially in a well-written persuasive writing piece.

Here are a few new understandings Mrs. Hall's students have learned:

• "There's a lot of steps, like revising your work."
• "You have to use good words to get people to read it."
• "You need to use words like 'finally', 'first', 'second', 'third' and 'in conclusion'."
• "The conclusion is important and you need to use the word 'should' in your conclusion."
• "You need at least three ideas to support what you think."
• "You need to get your reader's attention by having a strong opening."

Check out the hall display outside of Mrs. Hall's room for more persuasive writing!

Day 48: Sharon Esswein, Hilliard City Schools

Writing as a Gift

I see it everyday when I awake…our grand daughter’s letter to us saying how she loves us SO much that her heart is going to BURST with JOY.  Those simple yet powerful words mean more to me than any other gift anyone could ever give to me.  In fact, those words are so special to me that I put them in a frame.  

This got me thinking about Ralph Fletcher’s story in his book titled Poetry Matters where he tells about being a college student with no money at Christmas time.  He decides to write a poem for each family member.  Ralph stays up all night, writing, and then rolls up each piece, carefully tying them with ribbons and tucking them into the appropriate stockings.  He awakes to hear his little sister’s excited voice when she discovers her poem.   

Think about giving the gift of writing to your nearest and dearest this season.  Writing touches hearts.

Sharon Esswein is a Teacher Leader for Hilliard City Schools.